Of Music

I have always enjoyed music, and it has always filled me with wonder how the human voice can sing, using musical notes instead of the normal tones of everyday speech. From an early age I have played the bowed psaltery, and I am well acquainted with the basics of music theory. Despite these things, only just recently have I truly become interested in music. Last year I began learning to play the piano, and since then I have started learning to play a few other instruments as well. In addition, I have become interested in composing my own music, and in the past few months I have written four songs, and am currently working on several more.

Given my recent interest in music, I would like to present to you a simple classification of all music, that I believe is true and accurate. Although there exist many different styles of music in the world, when it all boils down there are only two types of music: religious, and secular. Allow me to outline the characteristics of both.

Secular music: Entertainment

The main characteristic of secular music as opposed to religious music is its purpose: to entertain people. Listening to music is very enjoyable, and is an activity that virtually everyone takes part in. Even though many people cannot play instruments, they all have their CD's and mp3 players.

Most secular music, in fact the great majority of it, is singing accompanied by musical instruments. Instrumental music without vocals exists as well, although it may not be quite as popular. With modern technology, many instruments can be blended together to make a very pleasing sound, and even electronic instruments can be used as well.

Because of its nature, the lyrics of secular songs should deal with things not concerned with God or Christianity. Such would make them religious songs, and using praise to God as entertainment is not right. This is not to say that secular music is sin, or that a Christian cannot be involved with it. It simply implies that we must be careful that we do not allow this class of music to mix with the religious type.

Religious music: Praising the Lord

As with the previous category, religious music is distinguished by its purpose. It is not intended for entertainment, but instead for praising God and edifying fellow Christians to continue walking in the light. In the sacred scriptures we read, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Colossians 3:16). Singing is a necessary part of our worship to God, something that He has instructed us to do.

Another great difference between secular and religious music is that the latter is always unaccompanied by instruments, that is to say, "a cappella". This has not always been the case, however. David wrote in Psalm 144:9, "I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee." David here was not disobeying the Lord when he pulled out his psaltery, in fact, God commanded the Israelites during that time to use instruments in His praise (see Psalm 50). However, when that old covenant was nailed to the cross and the church was established, a new law was put in place (Colossians 2:14, Galatians 3:24). Christians today are under this new law, which clearly states that we are to sing with our hearts, not with instruments (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).

When singing religious songs, our focus should be on the words, and how we are praising God or edifying our fellow Christians. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the singing (we should enjoy praising God), but our main focus and purpose should be to glorify God.

Is it really this clear?

After reading this, you are probably wondering whether things are really as cut-and-dried as I have presented them here. In a perfect world—yes. However, Satan has been working overtime here as well as in many other aspects to lure men from truth. In most denominations that claim to be Christian, instrumental music is a regular part of worship, and then there's "Christian rock" (an oxymoron, by the way). In these places, praise to God has been blended with entertainment, and men have brought in the instruments so that it would "sound better" (to whom? Certainly not to God). God asks us to sing from our heart, not from our guitar or piano. In the world, these two types of music are being blended together, and this, friends, is not acceptable!

It is easy to see that many people in the world, and even many of those who profess to be followers of Christ, do not understand the basic and fundamental difference between music for entertainment, and music for worship. I'm here to tell you that there is a difference, and that it does matter! Remember the words of Jesus Christ recorded in John 14:15, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments." It is essential that we observe the instructions that God has given us in His word, so that we may be pleasing to Him and someday have eternal life with Him instead of eternal death with Satan.